Canada is the second largest country in the world. It occupies the entire continent north of the United States except for Alaska and the French islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Canada is bordered in the north by the Arctic Ocean and in the south by the United States. The highest peak in Canada is Mont Logan near the Alaskan border. There are many rivers, for example the St. Lawrence, Ottawa, Yukon, Fraser, Mackenzie and Nelson.
Canada has a population of over 29 million people of different national and cultural groups. It is 48% of British origin, 31% French origin, 2% Native American and Eskimo and other minorities. English and French are both official languages, but only 17% of the population is bilingual. The principal religion of Canada is Roman Catholicism with the United Church and the Anglican Church.
Some four-fifths of the population lives near the USA border and northern areas are very thinly populated. The density of population is only 3 people square kilometer. For example USA has 28 people per square kilometer. The entire largest city like Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Quebec and the capital city Ottawa are situated near USA border.
Canada is rich in raw materials including gold, silver, nickel, uranium, copper, zinc, coal, natural gas and oil. One-third of the country is covered forest. Canada is a leading exporter of wood and wood products. Canada’s highly developed agriculture produces wheat, dairy products, fruit, fur, tobacco and vegetables. Fishing is also very important export industry. The standard of living is very high in Canada. The country has a developed market economy that is export-directed and closely linked with that of the Untied States. The chief industries are food products, steel and iron, paper goods, vehicles, metal products, industrial products and petroleum refining.
Canada is an independent federation within the British Commonwealth. It is a country of colonial origins, first French and then British. Its system of government is thus mainly inherited from Great Britain. Canada was the first federal state to be created within British Empire. The Prime Minister is the head of Government. Parliament is the supreme legislative body. It consists of the House of Commons and the Senate. The 301 members of House of Commons are directly elected by the people. Senators are appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister. English and French, the official languages of Canada, have equal status in both Houses of Parliament.
Canada is divided into ten provinces and two national territories. The provinces have control over education, properly laws and natural resources. The responsibility for social welfare and health care is divided between federal and provincial governments. The education system is organized by provinces. Most Canadian children enter elementary school at the age of six. At about 14 years of age most of them continue at secondary schools. The University of Quebec, founded in 1852, is the oldest Canadian university.
